Plug connecter



April 3, 1928.

B. P. M KINLEY PLUG CONNECTER Filed Dec. 8, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 5 Wfi April 3, 1928.

B. P. M KINLEY PLUG CONNECTE R Filed Dec. 8, 1923 ZSheets-Sheet 2 7 5- 9 )qlNVENTOR a Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

STATES PATENT OFFICE- BENJAMIN P. MGKINLEY, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK, A'SSIGNOR TOHEMCO ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., 0] LONGISLALNYD CITY, NEW YORK, A. 003- v PORATION OF YORK.

:PLIG GONNECTER- Application filed December 8, 1923. Serial No. 679,293.

My invention relates to improvements in plug connecters and has for its general object the production of a new and improved plug connector whichlends itselfinore readily' to economy in manufacture and is efficient and durable when in use.

In plug connecters as heretofore made, the lightness of the parts employed made them liable to bend so as to produce short circuits during the process of manufacture and furthermore the bending is liable to result in breakage so that the per cent of rejects was so large as to materially reduce, if not eliminate, the profit. My improved connecter has, among other objects and advantages, the reduction of rej cts through such causes and further permits of more expeditious manufacture and a generally superior product. ,One of the prominent objects and features of my construction is an insert having a swivel connection be- ,tweenthe internally threaded shells and a support therefor. Another object and ad vantageous feature of my construction is a swivel connection between the shell support and the central contact. I Other objectand advantageous feature of my construction'is the manner of holding the externally threaded shell to the washer or plug with-in the same. Another object and advantageous feature of my construction is the electrical connection of the internal contacts, which co-oper'ate with the internallythreaded shell, with the externally threaded shell and the electrical connection of the internally threaded shell with the contact centrally located within the externally threaded shell.

The following is a description of an embodiment of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a plug connector embodying my inyention;

2 shows the same, partly in section and partly in side elevation;

Fig. 3 shows the insert for my plug connecter, partly in section and partly in side its periphery.

contacts co-operating with the internally t r de h l 7isfa side elevation of one ofthe portions of the mold used in manufacturing my plugconnecter, the frame of the mold being removed;

Fig. '8 is a plan of the mold with the upper inner portion shown removed; and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the mold assembled with an insert therein on the line 9-9, Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 2 is a central contact member having a head 4;. The contact member 2 passes through a hole in a washer 6 against the outer face of which the contact head 4- of the member bears. This washer is preferably somewhat elongated as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It is surrounded by an externally threaded plug shell 8 which has a flange 9 which engages the outer endof the washer 6 near To the inner surface of the plug shell 8 are secured two conductors 10,

the upper ends of these conductors being secured adjacent to the lower ends of the plug shell 8 by solder 12. The solder bears against a. lower face upon the washer 6 and the upper ends of the conductors 10 also preferably bear against this face. The washer 6 is preferably extended the full length of theshell 8 recesses being formed therein as indicated at i l, Fig. 4, for the entrance of the ends of the conductors l0 and into which the solder is run. The engagement of the solder and ends of the conductors 10 with the opposing faces of the washer 6 hold this washer in engagement with the flange 9. The head 4 of the contact member 2 is held in engagement with the upper surface of the washer 6 by swaging out portions of'the contact member 2, as at 16, a metallic washer 17 being preferably interposed. Upon the lower end of the contact member 2 is mounted a frame 18, the contact memher 2 being headed over as at 20 so as to hold the frame thereon. The head 20 is prefea ably so located as to permit a longitudinal movement of the frame 18 upon the contact 2 and the contact 2 may be provided with a shoulder 22 for limiting the upward movementof the frame. The frame 18 is preferably swiveled so as to be free to turn upon the 'contactniember 2. The frame, 18 is provided at its two ends with circular openings minals of ordinary incandescent lamps.

These shells are provided with necks 28 which pass through the openings 24 of the frame and are then turned overrso as to produce flanges 30 which hold the shells 26in place, the construction being such as to permit the shells 26 to be turned about their axes relative to the frame 18, resulting in a swiveled connection. The contact memher 2 and conductors 10 are quite massive so as to possess sufiicient rigidity to withstand the great pressure which is employed in molding the mass of plastic insulation about the insert and so that they are not liable to be displaced or to be bent sufficiently to come into contact with one another and thus produce short circuit. 32 is a mass of insulation which is moldedwhile plastic about the lower portion of the insertso that .it extends to the bottom of the washer 6 and surrounds the lower portions of the contact member 2 andconductors 10 and shells 26,

as shown in Fig. 2. The shells 26 are thus embedded in the insulation and all the parts are rigidly held together. After the mass of insulation is molded about the insert, a spring contact 34 is applied to the inner end of each of the conductors 10. This contact when first applied has two end portions bent at a right angle, as shown in dotted lines, one of which is perforated at 36. The per- .foration 36 is placed over the corresponding conductor 10 and the end of the conductor is preened down so as to hold the contact in position. The free end of the contact is then bent down to the position shown in Fig. 2, thus affording a spring contact. The

preened end of the conductor 10 acts as a stop so that the contact can not be bent down below its limit of elasticity.

In applying the mass of insulation to the insert above referred to, a multi-part mold is used consisting of a base portion, which for convenience is made up of a plate .38 to which is secured a frame 40. Within this frame is a fixed inner member 42 which is also secured to the plate 38 and fills the lower part of the frame with the exception of the three rectangular portions 44 and 46. The upper face of this inner member has recesses conforming to one-half of the exterior of the desired molded mass. A similar inner portion 48 is secured to a plate 50 and is removable therewith.

The mold also com )rises a block 52 fillin the recess 46 and provided with a boss 54 which is. surrounded by the members 42 and 48 and is provided with a recess 56 which fits over the externally screw-threaded shell 8 so as to slide thereon. The mold also comprisestwo blocks 58 which fill the re cesses 44 and which are each? provided with neeaese a projection 60 which extendsbetween the members 42 and 48, said member being screw-threaded on it-sinner end so as to engage the internal screw-threads of the shells 26. These projections 60 are provided with recesses 62 into which the ends of the conductors IOeXtend respectively and also pro vided with extensions 64 which result in forming cavities 63 in the mass of insulation in which portions of the spring terminals 34 are located. r

relation with respect to the shells 26. After the blocks, together with the insert, have been introduced into the mold, the upper member 48 is put in position, the samebeing guided b the edges of the cavity 66 in the frame 0 the mold, a proper amount of insulating material, heated .to render it plastic, having been first introduced. Pressure is then applied to the top plate 50 so as to cause the insulating material to flow into all the empty spaces and embedthe parts withwhieh it comes in contact. In practice the pressure applied is a very high pressure which insures this result.

The movable parts of the mold are then removed by means of an extractor forced within the openings 68 and the resulting product allowed to cool. After cooling, the terminals 34 are applied, the ends of the conductor 10 being preeneddown and the terminals 34 bent to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

The swiveling of the frame 18 upon the contact member 2 permits the proper positioning of theends of the conductors 10 for enabling the plugs 60 to be screwedhome within the shells 26 andthe subsequent positioning ofthe blocks 58 for insertion in the mold. The capacity for longitudinal movement between the frame 26 and the contact member 2 permits of slight variations in manufacturing those several parts. The connection between the frame 18 andfthe contact member 22 is a fairly tight connection, with the result that there is proper electrical connectionbetween them and the same is true of the connection between the shells 26 and the frame 18. i i

With the plug connecter thus constructed, the process of manufacture is simple and accurate, furnishing a uniform product with practically no danger of imperfections.

As will be evidentto those skilled in the iii art, my invention permits of various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a plug connecter, the combination of an externally screw-threaded plug shell, an insulating washer within the same, a contact member passing through said washer, two internally threaded receptacle shells electrically connected to said contact member, two contacts connected to said externally threaded plug shell and having their ends centrally located within said internally threaded receptacle shells respectively, and a mass of insulating material molded about said internally threaded receptacle shells and extending to said washer, said externally threaded plug shell being internally flanged at its outer end and having solder secured to its inner surface adjacent to its other end holding said washer against said flange.

2. In a plug connecter, the combination of an externally screw-threaded plug shell, an insulating washer within the same, a contact member passing through said washer, two internally threaded receptacle shells electrically connected to said contact mem ber, two contacts connected to said externally threaded plug shell and having their ends centrally located within said internally threaded receptacle shells respectively, and a mass of insulating material molded about said internally threaded receptacle shells and extending to said washer, said externally threaded plug shell being internally flanged at its outer end and having solder secured to its inner surface adjacent to its other end holding said Washer against said flange, said washer having peripheral recesses extending from its inner end and said two contacts having portions extending into said recesses and secured by said solder.

3. In a plug connecter, the combination of an externally threaded plug shell, a con-- tact member passing through said shell and insulated therefrom, a frame connected to the lower end of said contact member, two internally threaded receptacle shells swivcled to said frame, and insulation in which said internally threaded receptacle shells are embedded and securing the same rigidly to said externally threaded plug shell and to said frame.

I. In a plug connecter, the combination of an externally threaded plug shell, a contact member passing through said shell and insulated therefrom, a frame loosely connected to the lower end of said contact member, two internally threaded receptacle shells swiveled to said frame, and insulation in which said internally threaded receptacle shells are embedded and securing the same rigidly to said externally threaded plug shell, said internally threaded receptacle shells being sWiveled to and free to turn axially in said frame before said insulation is ap plied and held from movement by said insulation.

5. In a plug connecter a. plug having a plug shell contact and a central contact, a frame electrically connected to one of said contacts and having a plurality of openings therein, a plurality of internally threaded receptacle shells each having one end within one of said openings, respectively, and swivelled to said frame and a unitary mass of molded material surrounding said frame and internally threaded receptacle shells and holding said receptacle shells from movement relatively to said frame.

6. In a plug connecter a plug having a plug shell contact and a central contact, a frame electrically connected to one of said contacts and having two openings therein, two internally threaded receptacle shells each having one end within one of said openings, respectively, and swivelled to said frame, and a mass of molded insulating material surrounding said frame and internally threaded receptacle shells and holding said receptacle shells from movement relatively to said frame, and central contacts within said receptacle shells connectedto the other contact of said plug.

7. In a plug connecter the combination of an externally threaded plug shell, a contact member passing through said shell and insulated therefrom, a frame having a swiveled connection to the lower end of said contact member permitting a longitudinal movement of the frame relatively to said contact independent of the rotary movement permitted by said swiveled connection, two internally threaded receptacle shells secured to said frame, and insulation in which said receptacle shells are embedded and holding said frame from movement relatively to said contact member.

8. In a plug connecter the combination of an externally threaded plug shell, a contact member passing through said shell and insulated therefrom, a frame having a swivcled connection to the lower end of said con tact member permitting a longitudinal movement of the frame relatively to said contact independent of the rotary movement per mitted by said swivcled connection, two internally threaded receptacle shells swiveled to said frame, and insulation in which said receptacle shells are embedded, securing the same rigidly to said plug shell and holding said frame from movement relatively to said contact member.

BENJAMIN P. MoKINLEY. 

